Camp classic from Dr. Seuss at the Orinda Theatre on June 24

    “Is it atomic?” inquires Hans Conried, in his role as Dr. Terwilliker, on the opening day of his piano institute. “Yes, very atomic!” answers student Tommy Rettig in the climax of one of the most remarkable musical fantasy films ever made in Hollywood’s golden age, “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.”
    In 1953, Columbia Pictures lavished $2,750,000, almost $33 million in today’s money, on this production. The studio spared no expense by filming in Technicolor, building fantastical sets and creating wild costumes and gowns by Jean Louis. The choreography by Eugene Loring is brilliant. The Oscar-nominated musical score by Fredrich Hollaender featured lyrics by Dr. Seuss himself, Theodor Geisel, who also wrote the screenplay.
    Directed by Roy Rowland and produced by Stanley Kramer, the artistry in bringing the Seuss world to life for a live-action film was the best to come from the studio. It opened with great fanfare and it bombed atomically at the box-office. Children, for whom the movie was made, were terrified by it.
    Over the years, the movie has developed a huge following for its campy nature and truly bizarre imagery. When seen today, the artistry of those involved shines through as entirely original and quite captivating.
    It tells the story of a boy who drifts off during piano practice and imagines his piano teacher as an evil, maniacal man who has imprisoned 500 piano students to open his Terwilliker institute by playing on a giant piano that may accommodate all 5,000 of their fingers.
    Mary Healy, Peter Lind Hayes, Conried and the wide-eyed Tommy Rettig, who later became a star with the “Lassie” television show, are in the cast.
    The movie is presented with a program of selected short subjects at 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 24. Following the shorts, the feature film starts at approximately 1:45 p.m. Admission to the Orinda Classic Movie Matinee is $10. More information at orindamovies.com.